GOP to control Buncombe commissioners

Democrat Gantt re-elected chairman; Republicans win 2 of 3 districts

12:09 AM,
Nov. 7, 2012

David Gantt

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Republicans narrowly wrested control of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners from Democrats, according to complete but unofficial returns Tuesday, winning four seats on what will become a seven-member board.

Republicans Joe Belcher and David King won in District 3, which takes in southern and western parts of the county, while the GOP's Mike Fryar and Christina Merrill took the two District 2 seats by very tight margins.

King said his victory is "probably a combination of things: The makeup of the electorate in that district, it tends to be a little more conservative. I won't ...